Postgame Quotes

Opening comment:
"It was good to finish non-conference play with not only a win, but a game where we had a lot of guys who stepped up and played well and made shots and moved the ball well. We had good activity on the floor, and now we have a few days in preparation for the Big 12 opener. Guys have done a good job in making progress and understanding that we have a long ways to go, and we've got to keep working at it and keep getting better, but we're going to keep doing that and we're looking forward to a week of preparation."

On how his team's offense played:
"Moving was good. I thought we moved the ball pretty well. There were a lot of good shots. These two (Steven Pledger and Amath M'Baye) stepped up and made shots, and it's good to see that. It gives a good foundation and a good cornerstone to work from, and I think the other guys gain confidence when other guys are stepping up there and making shots."

On playing in the Field House:
"The field house is great. It gets a good crowd and good activity. I thought the crowd the other night was fantastic, and this crowd was good and into it. I think people enjoy and appreciate the opportunity to come back into the field house and relive memories. We had a few players from the 40s come back, and that was great, too."

On his team's progress:
"They've made progress. The feeling of doing it five-on-five defensively, communicating a little better, reacting to one another a little better and more naturally. These 12 games have been an opportunity to make progress. There were a lot of close ball games, which is good, and a lot of games on the road, that's been good, too. We've got to focus on rebounding and focus on taking good care of the ball and shooting the ball with good rhythm. All these things have been a work in progress throughout, and we're taking steps in the right direction."

On how he feels about his team's potential:
"I like the potential of this group, but we can't be content with where we're at by any means. We've got to understand that Big 12 play is going to be tough every night out. We've got to get better every day in practice and not just game to game but every day in practice. Again, we just need to communicate better and talk better and in support of one another. We have to make that extra pass to get it out of our hands and just do things that good teams do, and I think this team is moving in the right direction, but we have a long way to go."

Senior Guard Steven Pledger

On playing and shooting in the Field House:
"The first few times we played here in scrimmages we were still trying to get used to it, but, after that, it became a pretty good place. It gives a good backdrop behind the goal."

On OU's quick start:
"I'm just glad we got the win in the way that we got it. We kept our foot down the way we were supposed to and did things we talk about day in and day out."

On the three-point shooting success in the second half:
"We were getting out and getting stops. Coach (Lon Kruger) always tells us to just get out and run. I was just running full speed, and I was already in rhythm, so I was just letting them fly."

On the pace of the game:
"It's what we work at every day. They always tell us (wings) to get out and to not wait. The point guard is going to come back and get the ball, so we go find open spots on the court."

Junior Forward Amath M'Baye

On playing and shooting in the Field House:
"I like it. I think it is a lot of fun. We do it for the fans, and, apparently, they like it, too. That's a great plus, that we get to entertain the fans. Like Steve (Pledger) said, we have played here before in the exhibition games. so it is not like it is a new place. It's always fun to come back and play here."

On OU's quick start to the game:
"I'm just glad we were able to jump on top like that and keep the pedal to the metal and to get playing time for the white team who works so hard every week for us. The fact that they were able to step on the floor today and have a little fun is a great thing for us."

On the pace of the game:
"It's definitely something we have been working on. I just think we started to execute it a little bit better. We were doing what we were supposed to be doing, and that is getting out and running. The wings are running the floor and the bigs are running the floor, so we had some breakaway opportunities."

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